Unison and GMB call on Carmarthenshire Council to implement ‘no cuts’ budget for 2023/24
The council argues a 'no cuts' budget is impossible and would mean a council tax hike of 17%
Trade unions Unison and GMB have joined forces in calling for Carmarthenshire Council to introduce a 'no cuts' budget for the next financial year.
County branches of both unions argue the local authority should not be passing on Conservative led cutbacks from Westminster and instead stand by residents who will be hit hard by budget cuts proposed for this year and the first quarter of 2024.
However, Carmarthenshire Council has said a no cuts budget is impossible and would result in households being hit with a 17% hike in council tax in order for the authority to make the necessary savings over the next financial year.
Proposals that could result in new parking charges and the demise of a leisure centre are among the tough decisions facing Carmarthenshire Council chiefs in the coming weeks.
As things currently stand, the Plaid Cymru Independent-led authority needs to find savings of £9.3 million to balance the books in 2023-24.
These are split between £6.1 million of what were described in a cabinet report as managerial savings resulting in "no perceivable change" to the overall delivery of service and £3.2 million of new savings.
The ruling Plaid-Independent cabinet has approved the draft budget proposals and a public consultation is underway.
Overall, the council expects to spend £450.1 million on its day-to-day costs in 2023-24 with £338 million coming from the Welsh Government and £112.1 million via council tax.
This represents a 7% council tax rise.
In a joint statement Unison and GMB said: "The choice for councillors is whether to stand with the trade unions and the communities of Carmarthenshire in opposition to the cuts or simply lament as they have done previously that there is nothing we can do and pass on the pain.
"The question is posed quite starkly whose side are you on? The side of the trade unions and working class people who will suffer the most from further cuts or with the Tories implementing their cuts."
"Due to the lack of resistance by councils including Carmarthenshire to previous cuts they were and are seen as fair game for further cuts."
The statement added: "Carmarthenshire Council should set a budget that meets the needs of local communities and its workforce using its reserves and prudential borrowing and then spend this money while demanding Welsh Government restores funding to 2010 levels (before austerity started) and return the monies cut from Carmarthenshire’s council budget since that time, approximately £120m, this would provide funding to restore and even improve services.
"Carmarthenshire Council could act as a beacon to other councils to do likewise."
"This should be the first step to building a mass campaign of defiance and resistance that can defeat Tory cuts."
In response, Carmarthenshire Council's Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Alun Lenny said: "I fully share the frustration and concern expressed by the unions.
"We are at the mercy of the UK Government’s draconian financial policies, but are determined to shield the residents of Carmarthenshire from the most savage cuts and higher council tax increases at a time of rampant inflation, constantly rising interest rates and the tremendous hike in energy costs.
"During the latter part of 2022, we were looking at a budget gap of over £20m.
"Thanks to a better than anticipated Revenue Support Grant settlement from Welsh Government, that’s been closed to £9.4m.
"But it’s still the worse budget situation we’ve ever faced, due to circumstances beyond our control.
"I accept that some proposals are unpalatable, but imposing a ‘No Cuts’ budget is impossible.
"The alternative to finding the proposed savings would be a horrendous 17% hike in council tax.
"If we failed to set a legal budget, the Welsh Government would be obliged to intervene and send in administrators to impose savings and cuts.
"As regards taking money from reserves, we're doing that, but as a one-off.
"Once it’s gone it’s gone, and next year looks like being as challenging – if not more so – than this year.
"I reject the accusation that we accept the situation meekly.
"In the autumn, I co-proposed a strongly-worded Notice of Motion with Labour’s Cllr Kevin Madge calling on the UK Government to provide extra funding for the Welsh Government in order to ensure sufficient funding for council to maintain services.
"Wales was granted an extra £1.2bn over two years in the Autumn Statement, it helped a little, but not much.
"Throughout this period, we’re in consultation with the public, the unions and all interested parties.
"I hope the unions recognise our efforts, as a council, to do our level best to support our hard working staff.
"It's essential that the dialogue continues with the trade unions who represent thousands of county council staff."
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